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James Wong Howe

Camera

Born August 27, 1899 · Guangzhou, China

Died July 12, 1976

Also known as James How · Wong Tung Jim · Jimmie Howe

Biography

James Wong Howe, ASC (born Wong Tung Jim, Chinese: 黃宗霑; August 28, 1899 – July 12, 1976) was a Chinese American cinematographer who worked on over 130 films. A master at the use of shadow, he was one of the first to use deep-focus cinematography, photography in which both foreground and distant planes remain in focus. During the 1930s and 1940s he was one of the most sought after cinematographers in Hollywood. He was nominated for ten Academy Awards for cinematography, winning twice. Howe was judged to be one of history's ten most influential cinematographers in a survey of the members of the International Cinematographers Guild.

Awards & recognition

  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1964
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1956
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography · 1976 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1967 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1964 · nominated
Show all 11 awards →
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Color · 1959 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1956 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1944 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1943 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1941 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography · 1939 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Sweet Smell of Success

1957Director of Photography

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

1968Director of Photography

The Prisoner of Zenda

1937Director of Photography

The Thin Man

1934Director of Photography

Laugh, Clown, Laugh

1928Director of Photography

Seconds

1966Director of Photography

Come Back, Little Sheba

1952Director of Photography

My Reputation

1946Director of Photography

Kings Row

1942Director of Photography

Fantasia

1940Director of Photography

Hud

1963Director of Photography

He Ran All the Way

1951Director of Photography

Hombre

1967Director of Photography

Yankee Doodle Dandy

1942Director of Photography

Manhattan Melodrama

1934Director of Photography

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

1948Director of Photography

The Strawberry Blonde

1941Director of Photography

Torrid Zone

1940Director of Photography

Shanghai Express

1932Additional Photography

The Rose Tattoo

1955Director of Photography

Hangmen Also Die!

1943Director of Photography

City for Conquest

1940Director of Photography

Abe Lincoln in Illinois

1940Director of Photography

Peter Pan

1924Director of Photography

The Dick Cavett Show

1968as Self - Guest

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948as Self

Objective, Burma!

1945Director of Photography

Under the Red Robe

1937Director of Photography

The Baron of Arizona

1950Director of Photography

Body and Soul

1947Director of Photography

Bell Book and Candle

1958Director of Photography

Pursued

1947Director of Photography

Passage to Marseille

1944Director of Photography

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

1938Director of Photography

This Property Is Condemned

1966Director of Photography

The Glory Guys

1965Director of Photography

The Old Man and the Sea

1958Director of Photography

Air Force

1943Director of Photography

Picnic

1955Director of Photography

The Molly Maguires

1970Director of Photography

Out of the Fog

1941Director of Photography

Daughters Courageous

1939Director of Photography

They Made Me a Criminal

1938Director of Photography

Algiers

1938Director of Photography

Behave Yourself!

1951Director of Photography

Nora Prentiss

1947Director of Photography

Fire Over England

1937Director of Photography

Mark of the Vampire

1935Director of Photography

The Time of Your Life

1948Director of Photography

The Criminal Code

1931Director of Photography